It’s with sad news that we begin this Monday’s coverage, as we regret to report that popular road racer Simon Andrews has succumb to the head injuries he sustained in a crash during the North West 200.

Andrews was racing with the Penz13.com BMW team on Saturday, when he had a horrific crash during the NW200 Superstock race. The crash occurred during the fourth lap of the race, near the Metropole corner in Portrush.

Airlifted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, reports on Andrews’ condition seemed to improve on Sunday, as the 29-year-old had been taken off life support and was breathing on his own, but Andrews unfortunately passed away this morning from his injuries.

A well liked member of the road racing paddock, Andrews also competed in the British Superbike and World Endurance championships, the latter with his fellow TT riders, as a part of the Honda TT Legends team.

Andrews was an up-and-coming star in road racing, and surely would have been a race contender at the upcoming Isle of Man TT.

Asphalt & Rubber would like to express our deep condolences to his family and friends. He will be sorely missed.

Terrible news. I’ve watched Simon for years in BSB and he’ll be sadly missed.

I just hope Franck Petricola and Michael Pearson can pull through from the injuries they suffered at the North West and Horice, respectively…

Bruce

RIP

John D’Orazio

The most dangerous race in the world. Scares me silly just to watch.

jzj

Of course there is the “they know the risks they are taking” angle, but I cannot abide by it. There are some risks which society deems excessive and therefore prevent. I am a life-long fan of virtually all forms of motorsports, but the risk run in street racing — particularly with the tremendous velocities easily obtained with modern bikes — is simply excessive. Take it to a track. That there are young men willing to accept these very high risks is not a justification for their regular and predictable deaths, and there should be a movement to step in and prevent these deaths in the name of collective sanity.

ToeCutter

I get your point of view zjz, but it’s not your place to try and remove the right for people to accept risk. You don’t get it, and that’s fine, but you should leave it there, it’s not your business. RIP Simon, you were some boy.

L2C

I gained a lot of respect for Simon Andrews over the past year, and all this past weekend hoped that his condition would improve. This is very sad news. Little else to say. May he rest in peace.

Highside Specialist

Sad news for a brave and talented rider. May he always stay on the throttle.

MidgetBiker

Sad……just sad

sideswipeasaurus

I’d heard of Si Andrews but didn’t get a good look at him until the Honda TT Legends documentary. In it he had come back from a pretty ghastly leg injury and during the course of the doc had ended up in Hospital again during the TT. Through it he had an endearingly understated sense of humor about it all. I’ve followed him ever since to see how he goes and develops in the road series’. Really hard to hear this. My heart goes out to his friends & family. Apart from himself only they know what racing meant to him & the risks he willingly took. Whether it’s base jumping, free diving, or motorcycle racing there are things pursued that give fleeting sensations of feeling and knowing what it is to live like no other. In all these that is achieved in a space where your life is literally in your hands. Is it worth it? That’s not for others to answer. The price for living is always death whether you die chasing the barest, rawest sensation of living or waste away on your couch waiting for the inevitable. It’s trite to say he died doing what he loved. Better to say he lived doing what he loved. RIP

+1 Sideswipeasaurus beautifully put, I agree entirely. I to watched Simon with great interest especially considering the seriousness of his leg injury, his long recovery and his grit to continue racing. He did love what ultimately took his life too early. RIP

As sideswipeasaurus said “Better to say he lived doing what he loved”.

The risk to run in street racing in enormous. its true that modern bikes are much safer nowadays, but racers are always on the limit. It’s very sad to hear this news

May he rest in peace.

GunBalina

This is very sad news! Great rider, it was great watching him! Condolences to family and friend. May he rest in peace!

pooch

Very sad news :( So sorry to read this today. HAd followed the reports of his crash and also knowing what he has come through before and kept bouncing back, just expected him to do it again.

Fly free and fast Simon.

vman2957

Very sorry to hear RIP. At least he died doing what he loved. To me the TT, and Road races of its type, are the last hold out from a “Nanny State” world. Fact is everything dies, he died doing what he chose to do. Better than dying on drugs. To the people who would try to end the races because of this death you do nothing to honor his quest. Spend your time stopping the “senseless death” of drug addicts, or stop the extinction of species across the planet. Leave the TT and the Road race alone.

Does anyone know what caused him to come off his bike in the first place? It’s a long straight leading up to Metropole so it’s odd. RIP Simon.

manny varela

My condolences to his family and friends, Simon was a highly skilled rider, and one great personality. He will not be forgatten. RIP Simon.

Lewis Dawson

Godspeed, Simon Andrews. I agree with jzj’s comment…

“Of course there is the “they know the risks they are taking” angle, but I cannot abide by it. There are some risks which society deems excessive and therefore prevent. I am a life-long fan of virtually all forms of motorsports, but the risk run in street racing — particularly with the tremendous velocities easily obtained with modern bikes — is simply excessive. Take it to a track. That there are young men willing to accept these very high risks is not a justification for their regular and predictable deaths, and there should be a movement to step in and prevent these deaths in the name of collective sanity.”

incognito96

These men put there lives on the line for our entertainment and they all command my utter most respect, if it wasn, t for them racind would not be the same.even the moto gp riders respect them, they do wot thet want to do and we love them for it. God bless them all, including the ones that fall

conrice

It makes me sick what happened, but it really pisses me off when people start talking about banning road racing in a remembrance thread. It’s not the time nor the place for that. So Lewis, jzj – leave it alone, out of respect for the man who just died doing the one thing he loved and dedicated his life to. The last thing Simon would have wanted is for road racing to be banned – and to bring it up in a thread dedicated to him is distasteful.

RIP Simon. I was a fan of yours, both on and off the bike. Your drive and spirit are things to championed and remembered.

Lewis Dawson

Yes, Conrice, well said. You are correct. JZJ and I should have realized that. I’m sorry for my mistake.

jzj

# conrice: I hadn’t recognized that this was intended to serve exclusively as a remembrance thread. I regret my comment as a misuse in that regard (perhaps another article would serve to restart a roadrace discussion). I pass along my condolences to the Andrews family and his friends.

to the family and freinds life has dealt you a an awful blow days will be long and tears will flow sadly the battle wasnt won but keep the memorys of those he won R.I.P

Staffordmike

Simon first came to my attention in the TT Legends TV series and, to be honest, when he was seriously injured shortly after coming back from an earlier serious injury my family and I hoped he would hang up his leathers. That he chose not to was testimony to his competitive spirit and love of racing. When all is said and done, these brave guys don’t race for our entertainment, they race because they want to win.

Norton 750 Commando-Combat eng

TT racing makes Moto GP, well look like tricycle races in kindergarten, the only thing I can compare it to is a high-speed motorcycle vs. motorcycle cop chase down San Vicente Blvd. in L.A. that I know nothing about. at all